I was Injured in a Motorcycle Accident, do I Need to Retain an Attorney?

Motorcycle
accidents are among the deadliest incidents that occur on the roadways.
According to the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 5172 individuals were killed in
motorcycle crashes in United States in 2017, the most recent year we have full
records for. This accounted for 14% of all motor vehicle-related deaths. Less
than 20 years earlier, in 1999, there were 2483 motorcycle accident fatalities,
accounting for just 6% of all motor vehicle-related deaths that year.

When
someone is injured in a motorcycle crash, they often wonder whether or not it
is worthwhile to obtain legal counsel. Attorneys do take a percentage of the
compensation amount they recover, which makes some who are involved in
accidents wonder if they are better off handling the insurance claim
themselves. This depends largely on the severity and complexity of the accident
and other specific circumstances in your case.

In
some instances, you may be just fine dealing directly with the insurance
company. For example, if you sustained only minor injuries and minor damage to
your motorcycle or vehicle, the facts of the case (e.g., cause and who was
at-fault) are clear-cut and agreed upon, and the insurance company has offered
a settlement that you believe is fair, then it might make sense to just take
the money, put this incident behind you, and move forward with your life.

There
are many other cases, however, when things are not as simple and straightforward.
When there are complicated circumstances, it might be difficult to recover full
and fair compensation if you handle the case on your own. Pursuing a personal
injury claim can be complex and confusing, and there are many potential pitfalls
that can trip you up and cause you to end up with far less compensation than
you deserve. With these types of cases, the services of an experienced attorney
can be invaluable.

Here
are a few circumstances in which you should seriously consider retaining an
attorney:

The accident
resulted in serious injuries or fatalities

If
the motorcycle accident resulted in a severe injury to yourself, or a loved one
was killed in a motorcycle crash, it is best to get a lawyer involved right
away. Insurance companies will often try to make a quick settlement offer when
someone has suffered a serious injury, hoping to close the case before the
injured party realizes the extent of their injuries. A lawyer with extensive
personal injury experience will know how to ensure that compensation for both
your current and future medical expenses can be recovered.

You are unable to
work because of the accident

Along
the same lines as the first point, if you are hurt so badly that you are unable
to return to work, you need to make sure you are compensated for not only your
lost wages, but also the loss of future earning capacity if the injury is
permanent and debilitating. Your lawyer will also help you properly value the
non-economic damages that result from your claim; such as physical pain and
suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, and loss of
consortium.

There were
multiple parties involved in the accident

Motorcycle
accident claims can be further complicated when there are several different
parties involved. For example, if you were riding a motorcycle and a car
crashed into you, causing your motorcycle to strike another vehicle and a
pedestrian who was walking nearby, there may be multiple lawsuits coming from
different directions. In this type of case, a thorough investigation will
likely be required to determine the exact cause of the accident and who was at
fault.

Another
thing that could add to the complexity of the situation is if one of the
parties involved was a semi-truck. This means several more parties could share
fault, such as the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle or vehicle product
manufacturer, the shipping company that loaded the truck, and many others. In
this situation, you need strong legal counsel in your corner advocating
aggressively for your rights and interests and working tirelessly to ensure
that all parties responsible are held fully accountable.

Call the Gardner
Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation

If
you or someone close to you was injured in a motorcycle accident in
Mississippi, it makes sense to at least talk to an attorney to discuss your
case and learn your legal rights and options.
That way, you can make the most informed decision on whether or not it
makes sense for you to retain an attorney to handle your case.

At
the Gardner law firm, we have extensive experience successfully representing
clients injured in motorcycle accidents in Biloxi and throughout Mississippi.
Our consultations are always free, and if we accept your case, you only pay
attorney fees if we recover compensation on your behalf. To schedule your free
consultation, call our office today at (228) 900-9618 or message us through our
online contact
form.

Pascagoula

Hattiesburg

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.